In Honmon Butsuryū Shū 本門佛立宗 various Buddhist services are held on a daily basis not only at temples but also at followers homes. The most important one held at home is called Okō 御講. To hold Okō, the host invites … Read More
The term Jogyo (助行) originally means a practice that supports a principal practice called Shōgyo (正行). In Honmon Butsuryu Shu, when we say Ojogyō (お助行), it means the practice of chanting the Odaimoku not for ourselves but for other members. … Read More
Honmon Butsuryū Shū 本門佛立宗 follower’s morning starts with two practices: Okyūji お給仕 (meaning serving or taking care of) of Gokaidan 御戒壇 (HBS family Buddhist altar) and Okankin 御看経 (chanting Odaimoku 御題目). Okyūji consists of the following: 1. Cleaning the Gokaidan … Read More
As well as morning Okyūji, HBS followers also serve the Gohonzon before dinner every evening. Morning Okyūji is to pray for avoiding curses and living peacefully and quietly through the day, while evening Okyūji is to express our thanks to the Gohonzon for the protection at the end of the day. As … Read More
In HBS, you can try a short-term intensive practice called Hyappon Kigan 百本祈願 (Hundred-fold Prayer Chanting). Hyappon 百本 means “one hundred numbers of incence sticks.” Kigan 祈願 means “a prayer.” Hyappon Kigan is the practice to keep praying (chanting the … Read More
As one of the characteristics of HBS which is quite different from other Buddhist sects, there is a fundamental practice called Asa-sankei. Asa literally means “morning” and sankei is “visiting a temple.” Usually, the Buddhist service held every morning is … Read More
At every HBS temple, a Buddhist service called Osōko is held several times a month on specific days. O in Osōko is an honorific prefix and Sōko literally means “All HBS followers.” Osōko is also called Goshugyo. Go is an … Read More
At every HBS temple, a memorial service for each of the three great masters, Nichiren, Nichiryu and Nissen Shonin, is held once a year. This memorial service is called Oeshiki. Each Oeshiki is usually held on Sunday closest to the … Read More
Gohonzon 御本尊—the principal image of worship in Honmon Butsuryū Shū—is a mandala which by means of kanji (Chinese writing characters as used in Japan) depicts Odaimoku 御題目, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō 南無妙法蓮華経 surrounded by Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and guardian deities of … Read More
Hatsu literally means “for the first time,” and Mairi and Sankei means “visiting a temple.” Hatsu Mairi (初参り) or Hatsu Sankei (初参詣) means bringing a newborn baby to a HBS temple for the first time and praying for a happy … Read More
